Russia announces a unilateral 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas, but Ukraine calls it cynical propaganda. The BBC reporter in Moscow, Will Vernon, tells us about the influence of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, who proposed the Christmas truce and the reaction it has had in Moscow.

Valeriia Hesse from the Open Nuclear Network joins us to answer a Ukrainecast listener’s question about Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.

And finally we clear up how to make the traditional Christmas dish of Kutia with restaurant owner Olga Tsybytovska.

Today’s episode is presented by Lyse Doucet and Vitaly Shevchenko.